Railway traffic controlling apparatus



Dec. 26, 1933. R. R; KEMMERER RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 19, 1931 ANN INVENTOR. RJZ. Kern me gr,

' Q-wf'" ##4 ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 26, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT I a I 1,940,913 RAIL AY RAFFio CONTROLLING a 18 Claims.

My invention relates to railwaytraffic con trolling apparatus, and particularlyto-apparatus of the type involving railway switches and signals which are controlled from a central point,

such as a despatchers oflice,:through the me, dium of a despatohers line and decoding apparatus. 7

One feature of my invention isthe provision,

in a system of the type referredto above,- of gmeans responsiveto a failure of the-controlling line for placing all switches innormalposition;

Referring to the drawing, the reference character I-I designates a stretch of railway track which is divided by insulatedjoints to'form sections XY and Y-Z. Located in the section X-Y is a railway switch S, which, when in its reverse position, will divert trafiic from the main track H into a siding H Traffic moving toward the left and entering. section XYisv governed by a signal A and traflic moving towardthe 'right'entering section XY is controlled by a signal A The signal A is provided with a-proceed lamp G and a stop lamp R. The signal will also usually involve other lamps, the .circuits for which are not essential in so'far as the present a V tact 7 of trackorelay T front contact 8 of track invention is concerned. v r

Located at the right-hand end of section Y-Z is a third signal A comprising a proceedlamp G, a caution lamp U, and a stop lamp R.

The switch S is provided with an operating 40 mechanism C, which in turn is controlledlby', a

switch relay WR. Contacts 3 and 4 of this relay constitute a pole-changer whereby current'of normal or reverse polarity is supplied to .the.

mechanism C according as the relay is energized in the normalor the reverse direction. The mechanism C responds to move the switchS to normal or reverse position according as the mechanism is supplied with current of normal or. re- I verse polarity.

Track section XY isprovided witlTa track circuit comprising a track battery-2 and a track relay T Section YZ is provided with a simi--;, lar track circuit, the track relayforwhich is i'nsuchmanner as toenergize relay RS and de-;

designated T 5 Theswitch S and the signals ll are controlled'.

in part by the track relays,- and in part by decoding apparatus comprising two decoding 1 relays RX andRY. These'relays are included in a despatchers controlling line, and the system isso" arrangedthat they are both normally energized but are periodicallydeenergized during the trans-V mission of a code. Two switch controlling relays NS and RS are controlled by the relays RX and RY in such mannerthat the switch controlling relays maybe selectively energized. andde'energized. A normally deenergized signal controlling relay F is likewise controlled by the decodingorelays in such mannerthat it can be energized at. the will of the despatchen The apparatusfor controlling relays NS, RS'fand F forms no part of my present invention, and is omitted from the drawing to simplify thedisclos'ure.

A slow-releasing relay "P, is provided with a. circuit which passes from terminalB .of a source of current, through front contact 27 'of relay RY, front contact 28 of relay RX, and the winding of relay P to terminal :0 of the same source of current. This relay is so'designed that it does not open during the transmission of a code, but that itdoes open in response to'prolonged opening of v either relay RX or RY. This prolonged opening may be due, for example, to a failure of the'despatchersline in which these relays are included.

Referring to the control of switch S, relay NS isnormally energized, and relay RSis normally v 1 deenergized. -:Under this condition, relay WR is; energized in the normal direction, the; circuit being from terminal B, through front contact 5 of relay NS, front contact 6, of relay P,I front cone relay T windingof relay WR, front contact 10 of relayP, and front contact 11 of relay NS to: terminal 0. .Relay WR is then energized in the normaldirectiomsothat switch Sis in its normal position. The front contact 8 of track relay T? in this circuit represents what is known as ap- .proach locking, and its purpose is to prevent an operation of switch S while the, track section' Y- -Z is-occupied by a train moving toward the switch. In actual practice contact 8 will not be a part of relay T but will be controlled by relay '1 and by other devices the function of wh'ich is to release the approach locking; under certain. conditions. For purposes of the' presentfdisclo sure, however, it is sufficient toiassume that contact 8 forms part of trackrelay T 5 When the 'despatcher desires-to reverse the switch S he will operate the decoding apparatus energize relay NS. Current of reverse polarity no .7

will then be supplied to relay WR, the circuit being from terminal B, through front contact 13 of relay RS, back contact 11 of relay NS, front contact 10 of relay P, winding of relay WR, track relay contacts 8 and 7, front contact6 of relay P, back contact 5 of relay NS, andiront contact 12 of relay RS to terminal 0. Relay WR will then reverse, thereby causing mechanism C to reverse the switch S, assuming, of course, that there is' no train in either section XY or Y-Z. v

Referring now to the signal A when relay F is deenergized, a signal relay E is also deenergized, and the stop lamp R is lighted.- The circuit for this lamp is from terminalB, through iront c0ntact 18 of relay P, wires 19 and 20, back contact 21 of relay E, and the lamp R to terminal 0,

When the despatcher desires to causeisignalf A to give a proceed indication, he will operate the transmitting and decoding apparatus in' such manner as to energize relay Ill A relay D will then become energized, the circuit beiiig' from terminal B, through front contact l i of; relay F, front Contact l5-oirelay P, and'thewinding of relay to "rniinal Q. If track section X-'Y is then unoccu ed, relay B will become energized, thecircuit'beingfl from terminal 13,- through front contact-169i relay 1), front contact 17 of relay T and the windingpt relayE: to terminal 0 The stop'lainp R will then be extinguished and the proceed lamp Gwill become lighted, due to thefact that 'the 'fro'nt point of contact 21 of" relayE insteadgof the back point of this contact will be lo ed Referring now, to signal- A this'signal is con- 'ti olled in part by a polarized relay K. W hen re-' lay K is energized in the normal direction, so that; its polar contact 26 iss'wung to the left,la'mp G' wil be lighted, t e ti t' time r im mina B throughirorit' contact 33 of track relay T iront' co tact 34: 'ojf relayK, polar contact 26, andthe lamp G to terminal Q. I When relay K isen'ergized inthe reverse direction, polarcontact will beswung' to the right, whereupon, lamp Gwill be etinguished,' and lamp U will be'lighted by a i i w i w ll be e u'. tem he raw Whjen' track relay T is deenergiz'ed; stop-lamp R will be lighted by virtue of, a circuit which inchides the back point of contact33 of this track real A h wn i t d w n x e r is .dj e elm-3" rgized'gand relay}; is; therefore; supplied with current of reverse polarity, the circuit being from enem Bg thrq tas was. 22 of relay front contact 23 of relay P, windingof relay r st s mian" 24. re r ran 'b tk ena 2 :or relay E toterminaljO. When relay E becomes energized; thecircuit will be the same as before, e 'rce'pt, that contacts 25 and 2 2 oirelay E will run tion as apol-fchanger to supply current of nor 'al polarity to relay K It follows that when signal A indicates proceed, signaim will indicate pr'dceed, whereas, when signal A indicates stop,

signal A iwill indicate caution. Of course, when" i fe i la T2 is .d e r i i' n'e fi w 1 date stop, regardless of the indication given by signal A despatchers li'ne, either one or b'othiof lth'e idecbdingrelays RX or'RY will become opened for a prolonged period. This will allowrelay Pftb-ie track rel'ay contacts 7 and 8; winding of relay WR', and back contact 1'0 of relay P to terminal '0'.

It renews that if switchS is in the reverse pcsition when the failure occurs, the switch will immediately be returned to the normal position unless section XY or section YZ is occupied by a train. In the event that either one of these sec tions is occupied, switch S will remain in the reverse position until the train passes out of section XY. V

The release of relay P will also close an auxiliary circuit for relay D, which circuit includes back contact 15 of relay P. Relay D being closed, relayE is removedfrom control by the decod ng relays; and signal A will therefore function as anautomatic signal under the control of track relay T Relay K will then be energized by current of reverse polarity, the circuit being from terminal B, through back contact 23 of relay P, winding of relay K, and back contact 24 of relay P to terminal'o. It follows that when relay P is open, signal A will indicate caution or stop, according as track relay T is energized or deenergized, but: that this signal cannot indicate proceed under anycondition.

' Furthermore, when lay P'isrele'ased', the oir cuits for lamps G and R of signal A will-be riodically interrupted in order toindicate that? this signal is functioning as an automatic signal. For this purpose I have provided a flasher relay M, the'- circuit for which is" from terminal B, through back contact 18' of relay P', and magnets 29 and 30 of the relay M? to terminal 0; These magnets are alternately placed on shortcircuit by a contact 31 in the" usual and well" known'manner, so that this contact and the con tact 32 are periodically reversed while the relayis energized. If lamp R of signal A 'islig l'ited, the circuit for this lamp will then be from terminal- B, through back contact 18 or relay P, contact- 32 of the flasherrelay-M, wire 20,'ba'cl contact 2 1 of relay E, and the lamp R to terminal 0. If lamp G of signal Af is lighted, the circuit will be the same, exce t that it will include the front point of 'contact21 of relay E instead of the back point of this contact. Anyothersuitable means may be provided; however, forgiving a distinctive indication when relay Pis o'p'en.

When relays Ra;- and at? again ecome energized, relay P will become energized, and all parts of the apparatus showhinthe drawing will be restored totheir normal conditions. 7

Although I have herein shown and" described 125 only one form-of apparatus embodyin'g my'invem tion, it is understoodthat various changes and modifications may be m'a'de therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention;

Having thus described my' invention, what I claim'isz W 7 Q 1. In combination, a section of railway track, a track circuit inclu ing track relay for said section, a signal gove'rning traffic t-hrotighsaid-135 ec io a no mally ner i rl b t trolled dec'odin' relay;which-periodically o ns for shortinte" ls during transmission of a c e, a normally open signal selector "relay boat-rules" H g H V i by said decoding re -lay andflc'losed in response to I will now assum that, due to a fail'ure of the a v o aa ile mallvq e t i hal car use said'decoding relay and arr nged to during thetrans ssion' of; a ease but to op response to prolonged opening or the decb'd relay, and auxiliary means for energizing s'a' signal relay when said slow releasing relay is 1 decoding relay which periodically opens for short intervals during transmission of a code, a normallyopen signal selector relay controlled by said decoding; relay and closed in response to a given code, a normally open signal relay closed in response to energization of said signal selector.

relay, means .for controlling said signal by said track relayand by said signal relay, and meansv responsive to prolonged opening of said decoding relay butnot to periodic opening thereof during transmission of a code for energizing said signal relay and thereby removing said signal from con trol by said signal selector relay. y

3- In combination, a section of railway track, a

track circuit including, a track relay for said sec-v tion, a signal governing traflic through said section, a normally energized remotely controlled decoding relay which periodically opens for-short intervals ,duringthe transmission of a code, a normally open signal selector. relay controlled by said decoding relay and closed in response to a given code, a normaly open signal relay, a controlling circuit for said signal including in series. a front contact of said signal relay and a front contact of said track relay, a slow releasing relay controlled by a front contact of saiddecoding re-' lay and arranged to remain closed during trans- -missionof a code but to open in response to prolonged opening of the decoding relay, a circuit for said signal relay including a front contact of said signal selector relay and a front contact of said slow releasing relay, and an auxiliary'cir-- cuit for said signal relay including a back contact of said slow releasing relay. r

- 4. In combination, a section of railway track, a track circuit including a track relay for said section, a signal governing trafiic through said section, a normally energized remotely controlled decoding relay which periodically opens for short intervals during the transmission of a code, means for normally controlling said signal jointly by said track relay and by said decoding relay, and means responsive to prolonged opening of said decoding relay but not to the periodic opening thereof during transmission of a code for removing said signal from control by the decoding relay. 7

5. In combination, a section of railway track, a track circuit including a track relay for said section, a signal governing traific through said section, a normally energized remotely controlled decoding relay which periodically opens for short intervals during the transmission of a code, means for normally controlling said signal jointly by said track relay and by said decoding relay, a slow releasing relay controlled by a front contact of said decoding relay and arranged to remain closed during transmission of a code but to open in response to prolonged opening of the decoding relay, and means operating when said slow releasing relay is open to remove said signal from control by said decoding relay.

6. In combination, a section of railway track, a track circuit including a track relay 'for said section, a signalgoverning trafiic through said section, a normally energized remotely controlled decoding relay which periodically opens for short intervals during the transmission of a code, means for normally controlling said signal jointlyby saiditrack relayand by said decoding'relay, and

means responsive. to prolonged opening of said decoding relay but not to the periodic opening thereof during transmission of. a code for removing said signal from'control by the decoding relay and causingfsaidsignal to give adistinctive indication. 1 g

. 37. In combination, asection of. railway track. a track circuit including a track relayfor said section, a signal'governing traffic through said section, a normally energized remotely controlled decodingrelay which periodically opens for short intervals during the transmission of a code, means for normally controlling said signal jointly by said track relay and by said decoding relay,.a'

slow releasing relay controlled by a frontcontactof said decoding relay-and arranged-to remain closed during transmission of a code but to open in response to prolonged opening of the decoding relay, and means operating when said slow releasing relay is open to remove said signal from control by said decoding relay, and causing said signal to give a distinctive'indication. I 8'. In combination, a section oi railwaytrack, a track circuit including a track relay for said section, a signal governing trafific through said 7 section, a normally energized remotely controlled decoding relay which periodically opens for short intervals during the transmission 'of. a code, means for normally controlling said signal jointly by said track relay and said decodingrelay, a normally deenergized flasher relay, and means responsive to prolonged opening of said decoding'relay for removing saidsignal from control by the decoding relayand forsetting said means responsive to prolonged opening of said decoding relay for removing said signal from control by the decoding relay and for setting said flasher relay in operation and placing the signal under the control thereof. I

,9. In combination, a section of railway track, a track circuit including a track relay for said section, a signal governing traflic through said section, a normally energized remotely controlled decoding relay which periodically opens for short intervals during the transmission of a code, means for normally controlling said signal jointly by said track relay and by said decoding relay, a slow releasing relay controlled by a front contact of said decoding relay and arranged to remain closed during transmission of a code but to open in response to prolonged opening of the decoding relay, a normallydeenergized flasher relay, means for setting said flasher relay into operation in response to opening of said slow releasing relay, and means also responsive to the opening of said slow releasing relay for removing said Signal from control by said decoding relay and placing it under the control of said flasher relay.

10. Incombination, a railway switch, anormally energized remotely controlled decoding relay which periodically opens during the transmission of a code, means for normally control ing said switch by said decoding relay, and means responsive to prolonged opening of said decoding relay for removing said switch from control by the decoding relay and placing the switch in normal position.

11. In combination, a railway switch, a normally energized remotely controlled decoding relay which periodically opens during the transmission of a code, a slow releasing relay controlled by said decoding relay and arranged to remain closed during the transmission. of a code but to open in response to prolonged opening of I normal or reverse polarity, and means the decoding relay, and means responsive to opening of said slow releasing relay'for removing said switch from control by said decoding relay and placing the'switch in normal position.

12. In combinationa railway switch, a normally energized remotely controlled decoding relay which periodically opens during the transmission of a code, detector locking and approach locking means for the controlof said switch, means for normally controlling said switch by said relay and also by said locking means; and means. responsive to prolonged opening of said decoding relay for removing said switch from control by'the decoding relay but not by said looking means, and placing the switch in normal position.

13. In combination, 'arailway switch, a nor-- iautomatic means responsive to trafiic conditions in said stretch, apparatus controlled from a point remote from the stretch, a signal controlled by said automatic means and by said apparatus for it i governing traffic over said stretch, and means 'lautomatically efiective upon the failure of said apparatus to remove the signal irom control by said apparatus. I

15. In combination, a stretch of railway track, automatic means responsive to traffic conditions I in said stretch, a normally energized relay periodi- 16. In combination, astretch of railway track,

automatic meansresponsive to traffic conditions in said stretch, anormally energized relay periodically deenergized in accordance with a'code transmittedfrom a remote point, a signal relay selectively controlled by said normally energized relay accordance with said code, a signalnormally controlled. by said automatic means and by saidsignal relay, and means responsive to prolonged deenergization of said normally energizedrelay for removing said signal relay from the control of said signal. 1 r

17. In combination, a railway switch, automatic means responsive to tralfic conditions adjacent the switch, code equipment controlled from a point remote from the switch, mechanism controlled by said automatic means and by said code equipment for controlling said switch, and means responsive to a failure of said code equipmentand controlled by said automatic means for placing the switch in normal position.

13; In combination with a signal capable of displaying a plurality of indications, code equipment controlled from a point remote from said signal, means for normally selecting the indication displayed by said signal in accordance with" trains conditionsand'the condition of said code equipment, and means automatically responsive toa failure of said code equipment to remove the signal from control by such code equipment and to cause the sgnal to give distinctive indications under the control of traffic conditions. 

